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Some random, or not-so-random, links that you might enjoy.

Desmond Lachman has worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a number of years, and has seen numerous financial crises in "emerging markets." What is making him nervous, though, is how the U.S. is making the same mistakes they always counseled other countries to avoid.

The Anchoress points to a YouTube video from the U.K. Parliament. If only more people would say this and everyone would listen.

Here's an interesting editorial from the Wall Street Journal that starts out considering the sometimes fine line between witchcraft and religion in Africa, and ends up looking at the differences between a superstitious veiwpoint and a religious viewpoint.

Is it more important to eat "organic" foods or to eat "healthy" foods. I think this is something to consider, especially if you lean toward buying organic. As one line in this editorial states, "organic junk food is still junk food." One of my ag professors in college said that it is best to shop on the perimeters of the grocery store - both in terms of health and expense. I always try to buy the least amount of processed foods and ingredients possible. Everyone should eat more fruits and vegetables! Keep my job recession-proof!

An inspiring blog by a mother enjoying what short lifetime she knows her daughter will have.

If you like Mike Rowe and the show Dirty Jobs, you have to go watch this video of a talk he's giving to a group in the Silicon Valley. There's an awesome story about castrating sheep at the beginning, that turns into some good reflections on the value of work. (Okay. Get over the castrating sheep already and just go watch it!)

For some more of Mike Rowe, here's what he has to say about the AIG bonuses.

I've seen some people really up in arms about this bill (HR 1388) that has recently been passed. It is a bill largely requiring national service by anyone receiving educational grants from the federal government. No, I didn't read the entire text of the bill, and it does seem to be quite a jumble. However, I don't think it is going to be as big a deal as people make it out to be. The only thing that immediately pops to mind is that as someone who received a lot of federal grants to pay for college, I don't know when I would have found the time to fulfill the service requirements that are now going to be attached to those grants. I don't think the sentiment behind the bill is totally wrong-headed, but the execution may be.

Snapshots

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So I have made it to my sole "free weekend" in the middle of the spring craziness. (To be fair, two weeks from now, Easter Weekend, I technically am free, but...it's Easter. Not quite the same as "totally free with nothing to do." Although, I guess using that definition this is not a "free weekend" because there's lots to do! Well - except that inactivity is being forced by the weather. But more on that later.) Anyway, next weekend is our Tree Festival/Vegetable Gardening Workshop/I'm speaking in the afternoon at the Harvey County Garden Show in Newon, KS. Then Easter, then April 18th I'm teaching a lawn care class for 3 hours in the morning. The next weekend I conned Steven into going to Topeka with me, since I'm speaking a vegetable workshop there. Then we have Herb Day, which is the day before my birthday. Then...I think...other than the Farmers' Market, my weekends may be gloriously free for...well...awhile anyway.

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So speaking of the weather, we are currently in a Blizzard Warning. Sounds delightful, right? Well, this is the first "blizzard" I've been in that doesn't involve snow. Grr... Actually, it has been throwing freezing rain, or something like that I had to drive across town at noon for one of the local TV news shows, and after that I decided that I would rather take a half day of annual leave rather than drive back to the office and then back home in the evening. After I made that decision, the roads seem to improve a little bit. But I really need a break, so the 4 hours off is worth it! On the other hand, I'd really appreciate it if some of these other cities in Kansas would stop hogging all the snow. Some of them have 7, 10, or 15 inches of snow. We have none! Just nasty accumulating frozen pellets of gunk. The purple splotch on the radar just keeps staying on top of us.

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During our trip to St. Louis a couple weeks ago, I read Rise to Rebellion, a novel by Jeff Shaara about the Revolutionary War. I have always loved reading about that period of history, both from a "daily life" standpoint and from the political/army standpoint. Now I'm working my way through The Glorious Cause, the sequel novel. So far, I think I like the first one better, just because it covers more of the politics and perspectives of events leading up to the war. What I think is the most amazing, that you often don't think about or realize, is how long the Revolutionary War was. We all know the dates from 1775, 1776....Lexington & Concord, the Declaration of Independence, etc... and Valley Forge (1777-8). Yorktown, 1781. The final treaty was signed in September 1783. 1776-1783. That's 7 years. 7 years of fighting back and forth, forming an army from whoever would volunteer, constantly retreating and reforming, trying merely to survive to fight another day toward independence.

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Since I had some free time this afternoon, I took the opportunity to get the kitchen totally clean for the first time in...weeks, I think. And then I promptly turned around and started getting it dirty by starting some bread and then making dinner. But after dinner I mostly cleaned it up again. Hopefully we'll be able to keep it in better shape. Now for the rest of the apartment...

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Other things on the to-do list for this weekend (just in case you actually care about all the tedious detials of my life): clean the apartment, grocery shopping, finish taxes (KS income, and Steven's), shopping at Bed, Bath, & Beyond, and.....you know, I think there was more on this list, but I can't remember anything else. That doesn't actually seem like a terrible list. (At least it doesn't as long as you can't see the apartment!) Oh yeah. Buying and writing and mailing Thank You notes. We have a few left from the wedding, and then a whole bunch from last weekend in Wisconsin.

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Maybe we will soak our shiitake mushroom block again this weekend to encourage it to put on its second flush of mushrooms! Did I ever post pictures of it the first time around? I don't think I did. Here's one from when the first mushrooms were just starting to develop.

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And, if you're interested, here's a couple pictures from the display garden we did at the Wichita Garden Show.

Popping In...then Back Out...

Hi! Just checking in. Are you still reading this? Checking occasionally to see if I'm still alive? Ah, well. I really shouldn't abuse my readers like this, but life is just too busy.

I survived the Wichita Garden Show.

I survived the trip to St. Louis this weekend. (And got to see some pretty spiffy orchids at the Missouri Botanic Gardens too boot.)

I'm teaching 2 classes this week and directing the the Demo Garden crew tomorrow.

I'm also starting a new blog that is for work. If you are interested, check it out here: http://thedemogardenblog.wordpress.com/